Main Streets of Australia Week
Australia is home to over 2.5 million small businesses. Making up 98% of the national business sector, their impact on the community is enormous.
It’s important that we support these small businesses and our main streets to ensure their survival, allowing them to continue to:
• Generate a significant number of jobs to those that rely on local or flexible work;
• Stimulate local spending and boost the economy;
• Support local causes and charities, as well as sporting groups and schools;
• Provide a sense of belonging in the community for the elderly and vulnerable;
• Build connections and foster safe spaces for people to gather and interact;
• Allow many families to stay financially stable and afloat.
Main Streets of Australia Week 2023
In 2023, we hosted our second year of Main Streets of Australia Week – a national campaign celebrating all that main streets and town centres provide to the community.
The message was impossible to ignore, as these streets and the businesses within them, came together to show us how they play a pivotal role in the social, economic, and cultural fabric of communities.
Between 15 – 21 May, the event was an incredible opportunity to connect with and raise awareness of our main streets and town centres. To close the week, we held the biennial Mainstreet Australia Awards Gala to celebrate some of the valuable contributions, projects and initiatives that have revitalised and enriched local communities across Australia. Over 100 passionate Mainstreet Australia members and stakeholders gathered at the Greek Centre on Lonsdale Street, a vibrant main street in Melbourne’s Greek Precinct, for the Awards evening.
This year, we had a truly national spread of entries, showing the growing movement and support for main street revitalisation. It was fabulous to see winners from Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania at the event to accept their award in person.
Congratulations to the thirty-three finalists and ten winners for 2023.
Finally a big thank you to our sponsors without whom the Awards and Main Streets of Australia Week would not have been possible – the City of Melbourne, Renew Australia, Dynamite Printing, The Place Agency and Silver Lining Strategy.
If you missed out on participating this year, join us for the Main Streets of Australia Week 2024! More details on how your main street or town centre can get involved will be released soon, so follow us on our socials and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date.
Interested in getting more involved? We’re currently seeking partners for 2024 – contact us at info@mainstreetaustralia.org.au to express an interest.
